Frank J. Ciano

Frank J. Ciano is a partner in the firm's White Plains, New York office. His educational background, professional experience and skills, and expertise in international litigation, combine to give Mr. Ciano a distinct perspective that enhances his service to clients.

He received a Bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering, cum laude, with a minor in computer science, from Manhattan College in 1986. Upon graduation, he worked as an aerospace engineer, designing wing and fuselage structures for air and spacecraft.  He then attended Hofstra University School of Law where he earned is juris Doctorate, with distinction, in 1990.  In each step of his education and career, Mr. Ciano has shaped a way of thinking that emphasizes the importance of detail, precision and steadfast preparation.

Clients with operations around the world benefit from Mr. Ciano's ability to leverage his technical knowledge and international law expertise in pursuit of the most favorable results.  He concentrates his practice on the representation of international corporations and insurance carriers in products liability, commercial, corporate, regulatory and intellectual property litigation.  He is a registered patent attorney.

He also assists international corporations to comply with the various requirements of the European Union Product Liability and Safety Directives, China's Product Quarterly Law and Compulsory Certification Mark.  In order to better serve his clients, Mr. Ciano works with a network of product liability attorneys in Europe, Asia and South America.  Fluent in Italian, Mr. Ciano has presented to numerous corporate organizations throughout Europe and Asia including conferences in cities such as Milan and Torino, Italy, Barcelona, Spain and Beijing and Shanghai, China.

Direct Dial
914.798.5410
Fax
914.798.5401
E-mail
fciano@goldbergsegalla.com
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International Practice Areas

Admitted to Practice

• Moderator, "Unfamiliar Territory: Foreign Liability Standards and How They May Impact Your Company," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 5th Annual Corporate Counsel Symposium, "Circling the Wagons, Protecting the Company from Outside Attacks", September, 2008
• Presenter, "Product Liability, Risk Avoidance and CPSC Compliance", presented to China Pacific Property Insurance Co., Ltd., ING/Pacific-Antai Life Insurance  Co., Ltd., Federal Insurance Company Shanghai Branch, Houlder China Insurance Brokers Ltd., Crawford Tino Insurance Surveyors & Adjusters Co., Ltd., AIG General Insurance Company China Limited and Generali China Insurance Co., Ltd. Beijing and Shanghai, China, February 2008
• Program Moderator, DRI International Law Committee Webinar, "Expectations for Depositions in Foreign Jurisdictions," September, 2008 
• Speaker, "Taming The Litigation Beast," and "Examination of Foreign Product Liability Directives and Their Effect on US Corporations," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, 4th Annual Corporate Counsel Symposium, September 2007
• Presenter, "Product Liability Law and Litigation, Accident Investigation and Strategies to Minimize Product Liability Cost," presented to Associazione Piccole, July, 2007, Rovigo, Italy
• Presenter, "Developing Liability Issues in Europe and China," presented at the Manufacturers Alliance / MAPI Annual Product Liability Conference, Dallas, Texas, May, 2007
• Presenter, “Challenges for Lawyers in Dealing with International Product Liability Cases,” Defense Research Institute’s International Specialized Litigation Group, February, 2007, New Orleans, Louisiana
• Presenter, “Product and Machinery Safety in Europe,” presented to the Weatherford International Ltd. Group, February, 2007, Houston, Texas
• Co-Author, "Europeans Have Imported More Than Fast Food," Product Liability Law in Europe, Defense Research Institute In-House Defense Quarterly, Winter, 2007 
• Presenter, “Product Liability Law and Litigation in the United States and Product Recalls – Fundamentals and Coverage Issues,” presented to Zurich Corporate Global France, January, 2007, Paris, France and Societa Reale Mutua di Assicurazioni, January, 2007, Torino, Italy
• Program Moderator, "Meeting Today's Discovery Challenges; Controlling Discovery and Preventing Abuse, New Discovery Challenges and Developments," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel's Corporate Counsel Symposium,  September, 2006
• Presenter, "Do Not Abuse Potential Clients, Existing Clients, or the Jury," Defense Research Institute's Specialized Litigation Group - Discovery Abuse, Products Liability Mega Conference, February, 2006
• Presenter, "U.S.A. - Europe Product Recalls; Two Different Worlds," Zurich International Italia SpA, Milan, Italy, February, 2006
• Presenter, "Effective Use of In-House Engineering Experts," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel, Trial Tactics/Products Liability Section, Winter Meeting, March, 2006
• Program Moderator, "Pre-Trial Strategies - Reduce the Risks Before the Jury is Seated," Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel's Symposium, Best Practices for Litigation Management, Controlling the Risks, the Exposure and the Costs, September, 2005
• Author, "Accident and Event Data Recording: An International Review of Legal and Political Implications," FDCC Quarterly, Vol. 55, No. 3, Spring, 2005
• Presenter, "United States Product Liability in Court - A Workshop Obtained from Reality," Presentation to Zurich S.p.A., Milan, Italy, April, 2005
• Program Moderator, "Important Aspects of Discovery to Consider When Evaluating Your Case for Mediation," Discovery Abuse Specialized Litigation Group Program Moderator, Defense Research Institute Products Liability Conference, February, 2005
• Presenter, "European Directives - The Protector of the Consumer," Association of Equipment Manufacturers Conference, January, 2005
• Co-Author, "Expert Discovery, Depositions and Motions to Exclude Experts," Chapter 6, Preparing for and Trying the Civil Lawsuit, second edition, New York State Bar Association, 2004
• Directive 2001/95/CE of the European Parliament: The New "Umbrella" Directive Concerning Consumer Protection. Preparation of presentation to the Joint International FDCC/DRI Conference, May, 2004 Barcelona, Spain
• Program Moderator, "Discovery Abuse Specialized Litigation Group," Defense Research Institute Products Liability Conference, Discovery Issues and Abuses - The International Perspective, February, 2004
• Presenter, "Insurance Coverage and Products Liability Issues in the United States," Presentation to Zurich S.p.A., Milan, Italy, February, 2004
• Presenter, "Products Liability Law and Litigation in the United States, and the Development of a Products Liability Prevention Program," presentation to ACIMALL (European Trade Group for Manufacturers of Woodworking Machines), Milan, Italy, February, 2004
• Presenter, TREAD Act, "Transportation Recall Enhancement Accountability and Documentation Act: Its Obligations and Strategies to Fully Comply," presented to ANCMA Association Nazionale Ciclo Motociclo Accessori, May, 2003
• Program Moderator, Discovery Abuse Specialized Litigation Group, Defense Research Institute Products Liability Conference, February, 2003
• Presenter, "Complexity of Compliance with European Liability and Product Safety Directives," presented to the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Conference, January, 2003
• Presenter, "Product Liability," Agricultural Equipment Technology Conference, February, 2002
• Program Moderator, "Document Retention - I Know They Want to Hang Me, But Do I Have To Bring the Rope," Defense Research Institute, February, 2002
• Presenter, "How Product Safety Stands Up to the Litigation Process in North America and Europe," Equipment Manufacturers Institute, October, 2001
• Presenter, "The Accident Investigation, Success Without the Discovery Nightmare," Defense Research Institute, February, 2001
• Presenter, "Product Performance Evaluation and Investigation System," Equipment Manufacturers Institute, October, 2000
• Presenter, "Into the New Millennium: Satellite Claims," Excess Surplus Lines Claims Association, October, 1999

• Named to Super Lawyers, Corporate Counsel Edition
• Named to New York Super Lawyers

• Italian